As we crawl ever closer to that fateful Friday night with forecasts predicting smashed faces and torn calf muscles (I know I know, sounds amazing right?), I give you ladies some goodies from some well known ladies men (is that supposed to be one word?).

First the father of 5, the Newest of Dangers and the Tru3st of Magic, the Mighty Mos Def.

I know since 2000’s Black On Both Sides, many people have hoped for Mos to return to his glory days and once again pair up with the Premiers, Hi-Teks and Ron Carters of the world in hopes of producing another classic soul/hip-hop record. However, since 2000, he’s decided instead to go progressively left with every release (yes he had a Rock album beFORE Lil Wayne, and yes it was wicked. And yes, he got some of the best to ever do it on the record – including Doug Wimbishwho’s not only a member of the legendary Living Color, but probably best known for his bass work on Grandmaster Flash’s ‘The Message’), and although some may not like where he’s headed, you gotta respect a man for stickin to his guns.

Anyways, this is apparently his 2nd single off the (yet to receive a release date) Ecstatic – and me likes…lots. – courtesy of the good people at IllRoots.

Next you have another man who’s also known for going left (but not only for his music).

Michael Eugene Archer, a.k.a. D’Angelo has had a rough few years. From his much publicized arrests to his sudden ‘change’ in appearance, it seemed as though he was well on his way to Axl Rose’dom and that there would be no more of this Yoda (a term used by the Soulquarians for the ‘Chosen Ones’). However, recent reports from the Roots’ ?uestlove says that D’Angelo has not only pulled himself back off the ground, but is back in shape, in good spirits and has been recording with Q-Tip, Raphael Saadiq, Pino Palladino, Roy Hargrove, James Poyser and pretty much everyone else that helped to make the Musical Bible we know as Voodoo. Anyways…there’s always a chance that D’ will fall back into his Sly Stone routine again, but with the release of a new single (available on iTunes), new websites and a new deal with Clive Davis on J Records, I feel optimistic.

So to tide you over until then…a goodie ?uestlove leaked awhile ago. You may have heard it, but just in case….here it is.

I don’t know bout you…but from what I can tell, there are OODLES of people (including 80% of my entourage) just gettin outta bed from Wednesday night. So if you’re lucky/unlucky enough to fall into that category, here’s a bunch of music to veg out too.

First up we have the entire compiled Month of Madness by Roc-A-Fella’s version of Ghostface, Freeway.

If you’re not sure what this is, Freeway set out to write and record a track for everyday during the month of December (Kind of like a compressed version of Crooked I’s Hip Hop Weeklyseries that he did last year). Anyways, as tedious as it may seem to go through 32 tracks (no matter WHO the artist is), there are definitely some dope verses and nasty beats on this. Is it too much….perhaps….but a fun project nonetheless. It’s like actually getting to see a rapper PRACTICE. Hopefully this means his next album’ll be Bananas.

From the fine people at OnSmash & IllRoots….Click flick to DL.

01. Month Of Madness (Produced by Phoenotes)
02. Everlast (Produced by Blunt)
03. Count On Free (Produced by Jake One)
04. Look Around (Produced by Tryfe)
05. Gonna Get Mines (Produced by Blunt)
06. I’m Great (Produced by Tryfe)
07. MindState Takeover (Produced by Cardiak)
08. Blauh (Produced by Jake One)
09. Together (Produced by Dilemma)
10. Tell You Something (Produced by Erick Sermon)
11. Movin’ Out (Produced by Phoenotes)
12. Straight Madness (Produced by Cardiak)
13. I Can Deal With It (Produced by Blunt)
14. Really Rough Out Here (Produced by Blunt)
15. Street Music (Produced by Blunt)
16. Start Wildin’ (Produced by Erick Sermon)
17. Doing Anthing (Produced by Dominic McFadden)
18. Get It Started (Produced by The Alchemist)
19. Rap Spitters (Produced by Don Cannon)
20. Diesel (Produced by Needlz)
21. Long Money (Produced by Sapp)
22. Do It To Death (Produced by Tryfe)
23. There You Go (Produced by Don Cannon)
24. For The Better (feat. Neesh) (Produced by Blunt)
25. As I Ever Been (feat. Hezekiah) (Produced by Oddisee)
26. When I Die (feat. James Blunt) (Produced by Oddz-N-Endz)
27. I Wanna Be Free (Produced by Blunt)
28. NP Finest (Produced by Cardiak)
29. Bank Rollz (Produced by Don Cannon)
30. Back For More (Produced by Cardiak)
31. Don’t Tell Me It’s Over (Produced by Blunt)
32. So Cold (feat. Klass) (Produced by Oddz-N-Endz) (Bonus)

…And speaking of Crooked I and practicing….

For the past however many years (especially the past 2 or 3) there’s been a LOT of talk surrounding Dr. Dre’s version of Chinese Democracy, Detox.

Word is that the album features 50, Bishop Lamont, Em, a reunion with Snoop (the last one being Imagineoff Snoop’s Blue Carpet Treatment with D’Angelo) and even collabs with DJ Quik (which excites me very much.) And well, as many of us wait to see if the good Dr. can return to the strength of Chronic 2001 (because, yes, no matter what’s happened since I am STILL a fan), here are some unofficial leaks from the album.

*Note none of these songs have Dr. Dre rapping on them, but they have his Verses (a.k.a. the Ghostwriter spitting).

Say Dr. Dre (written by Crooked I) – This is a solo joint (sorry but I don’t have the mpfree for this one).

DJ Quik spillin his guts about Detox.

And finally, a 20 min interview with Dre’s current muse (outside of Em and Snoop of course) Bishop Lamont talking about the record, as well as dissing Game and all that other stuff you gossip folk love.

To all rappers and true lovers of Hip-Hop, if you’ve had the privilege of following Buddens, you’ll know that he’s serious.

After one big tune and a poorly received debut on Def Jam, Joe seemed destined to travel the path of the Mike Jones’ and Yung Joc’s of the Rap world: one big single and then a career spent trying to regain that success. However, Joe showed his resilience and integrity and accepted the position he was in. Instead of trying to come back with another Pump It Up, he went left and put out something that HE wanted to put out: the Mood Muzik Mixtape Series. A raw, unrelenting display of pure, unadulterated, good ol’ fashioned Hip-Hop that put Joe amongst the lyrical giants. It brought Joe back into the eye of both the underground and online hip-hop communities and more importantly, shed his ‘Pump It Up’ skin.

Now, I’m not trying to paint him as the savior or anything like that. Joe has his weakness, and it’s one he shares with Jadakiss, Kurupt, Canibus, Ras Kass and Eminem: Excellent rappers who can’t pick beats if their life depended on it. But even still, I’d rather hear a Joe Budden verse on your little brothers Garage Band beat over Mims on a Just Blaze banger.

Next up, some more from Braggadocious Big Brother and Heartbroken Little Brother. I was contemplating whether or not to post this cause DJ Khaled is NOT the Best (as his over confident Tourette’s would have you believe) but I figured some of you may still wanna hear it anyways.
DJ Khaled – Go Hard Remix Feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West & T-Pain.

And as I proclaimed on Friday, it’s D’at time of year again (for me)…so this time, D’Angelo, during his Brown Sugar days, doin a cover of one of my favorite tunes by one of the dopest EVER EVER, Mr. Bill Withers.

As you digest your turkey, sleep off your egg nog and relax from that mistletoe, I have a few more goodies for your virtual stocking.

Courtesy of the boys over at illRoots, I have a very cool mixtape download by DJ Osk that combines West Coast funk with East Coast spit.

I give you….(click pic to Download)

As many of you know, the Lox are dope lyricists. This has been a constant for many years and with the recent barrage of Jadakiss mixtapes and Holiday Styles (P.) guest features (SEE HUMDRUM by The Roots feat. Mos & Styles) this statement has never been more accurate. However, the fact of the matter is, their ear for beats have left many of their lyrical gems inaudible because dammit….they pick some stinkers.

So although I’m not the biggest perpetuator of Dr. Andre Young M.D., I’m a strong supporter of this concept and hope they can aim for this same quality on their official releases (I really hope Jadakiss’ new album is good. I really really do.).

Tracklisting.

Once you’ve processed your way through that….some dope.

As my colleagues and loyal readers have come to know, I’m a Native Tongues, Soulquarian and Ummah head (as many North American Asians are for some reason…go figure…I guess we identify with the plight????!! **shrugs shoulders** ). And as I’ve been on my De La rampage for the last few months I thought I might ease up for a second and start giving you another side of my O.C.D. mental.

D’Angelo. Namely…Voodoo. (Yes, the album with the video with the nakedness) But more importantly, the album heralded by musicians worldwide (Specifically session cats and jazzers) as being one of the last great examples of a strong, brave, patient, soulful, highly musical, heavy, etc. etc. etc. record that Popular American Culture has allowed through it’s filter to the Masses blah blah blah (I’ll get off my milk crate now…)

Anyways….point is that it’s good, whether you want to approach it from an academic angle or not…and since 2000, I’ve dedicated (a minimum of) 3 months of every year to this record. And well, it’s begun…again. So stay tuned for the next few weeks for some little D’Nuggets for all my D’Heads. In the meantime…like I said…some dope.

D’Angelo channeling his inner James Brown/Prince.
WATCH THE WHOLE THING!!!!

As in 2 days left!! Im gonna take a bite out of Triple’s steez here for the ladies. Seeing as how we have 2 days left ’til HHHT Vol.2 Backroom madness @ Deep Passion this Friday, just in case you don’t know. Its only fitting that you get blessed with a couple (times 2) great duets.

First off we’re going back to the classics, Marvin Gaye featuring Tammi Terrell. With ‘Your all I need to get by’

Now if your digging the song, I got it for your ipod or iphone right here

As a bonus, Im sure most of you are more familiar with the Method Man & Mary J version of this song. When this came out a bunch of dudes starting calling their girls ‘Shorty’ and ‘Boo’. Meth’s swag is pretty mean in this video too. I’m sure it inspired some thug ambitions in many a young rider at the time.

On to other inspirational things. When D’angelo (pronounced Dee-Angelo, for those who don’t know) first dropped. His album definitely inspired the R&B thug in most of us. A dude with corn rows singing all pretty and shit?!! Yeah word. His first album Brown Sugar is great and his 2nd LP ‘Voodoo’ produced by the Soulquarians has glimpses of genius on it. It was also the last album he released before getting fat and going a little crazy.

Anyways D’ang tapped DJ Premier for a remix for his ode to the fairer sex. Here’s the vid featuring AZ on the mic and a few beautiful ladies for eye candy. Joi (Big Gipp from Goodie Mob’s wife), Faith Evans (Biggie’s ex) and Erykah Badu when she had just jumped on the scene and was with Andre 3000, before moving on to Common and now she’s with Jay Electronica. She definitely got some magic between her thighs!!!